South Africa's new Airlift Implementation Plan is about to be launched and industry is calling it a 'major achievement'.

“The question of easier air access to South Africa has been a concern in tourism circles for some time. As 2010 approaches, it has become more urgent, and that is why SATSA welcomes the new Airlift Implementation Plan, released by the Department of Transport (DoT) this month,” says SATSA ceo Michael Tatalias.

The Department of Transport's 'Vula Skies' (Open Skies) air services framework aims to renegotiate bilateral air services agreements (BASAs) with the aim of increasing air access to this country from both regional and international countries, and to see that these increased frequencies, once negotiated, do not impact adversely on the ability of South African airports to handle this increased traffic.